“Shore Spring” Population: 2,800
Old names: Malmistra, Mampsista, Mansista, Mansis, Mopsuestia, Mopsus
East of Adana, 3km south of the Ceyhan road, the scant ruins of ancient Misis lie around the dismal small settlement of Yakapınar.
Backstory
If accounts are to be believed there was once a Roman town of 100,000 people where now only scarcely 3,000 make their home.
In 1107 a battle took place at or near Misis between two Crusader leaders, Tancred, who was in charge of Antioch and had occupied Edessa, and Baldwin II who had been in control of that town until being captured by the Turks at the Battle of Harran.
The town was once associated with Lokman Hekim, an Islamic wise man mentioned in the Koran who is said to have dropped a recipe for immortality into the Ceyhan river here.
Around Misis
The main attraction of Misis used to be a large mosaic showing all sorts of animals including a lion that was on display in a small museum beside the local school. As so often, the fragmentary remains dotted about the museum garden were as interesting as what was inside it. Amongst other things there was a single seat taken from the Misis theatre, as well as a mosaic depicting gladiatorial combat. However, the mosaic may have been removed to the sanctity of Adana Archaeological Museum (?). On the opposite side of the school to the old museum archaeologists have excavated a settlement mound, revealing the remains of a theatre amongst other things.
Yakapınar’s other drawcard is the restored nine-arched bridge over the Ceyhan (Pyramus) river.
It apparently dates back to the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian but is named after Lokman Hekim.
The honey made in Yakapınar is reputedly excellent.
Transport info
A local bus runs from Adana to Ceyhan via Yakapınar. It leaves from the bus stand near the Taş Köprü (Stone Bridge) in Adana. To board you will need to have bought a ticket in advance.
Alternatively you can take any bus heading for Ceyhan, Kozan or Kadirli from Adana’s Yüreğir bus station and ask to be dropped at the junction for Yakapınar. Then you can walk to the museum – it’s flat all the way. 
This mosaic from Misis suggests that the Romans kept partridges in cages exactly like the one still used today
…as in this example snapped in Kahta
